The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to draw the attention of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to the fact that on 11 May 2016, in response to expressed concerns about freedom of expression and opinion, Thailand’s delegation to the Universal Periodic Review stated to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) that the Government “encourages exchanging of views including through public hearings, about national reform and drafting of the new Constitution by all sectors of the society, both at national and international level.”.

1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to draw the attention of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to the fact that on 13 March 2015, in response to expressed concerns about trials of civilians in Military Courts, Thailand’s delegation to the United Nations (UN) stated to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) that Thailand “is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights of all persons” and that “only a limited number of cases of those who are accused of committing serious offences are submitted to Military Courts”. 2. The ALRC would like to point out the manifest inaccuracy of this statement. The May 2014 Military coup, […]

A Written Submission to the 31st Regular Session of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre The Asian Legal Resource Centre wishes to direct the attention of the Human Rights Council to the critical situation of human rights defenders in China, Bangladesh, and Thailand. While this Council is holding its 31st Regular Session, human rights defenders in these three countries are facing dire threats to their person and profession. Members of the Council, at least 290 lawyers are currently being held in detention in China, for nothing more than undertaking their professional responsibilities. Many have had their licences revoked. Almost all of them have been […]

Date: September 17, 2014 Document ID:ALRC-COS-27-14-2014 Speaker:Mr. MOON JeongHo HRC section: Item 3, General Debate An Oral Statementto the 27th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status THAILAND: Human rights crisis is deepened Thank you Mr. President. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) continues to draw attention from the Council to the deepening human rights crisis in Thailand following the 22 May coup.Although the country has been experiencing political unrest, this unrest is protracted, and nothing in the current circumstances is justification to introduce martial law and launch a military coup under the international human rights […]

ALRC-CWS-27-12-2014 September 5, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty seventh session, Agenda Item 3, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre THAILAND: Human rights in crisis three months after coup 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to raise grave concerns with the Human Rights Council about the deepening human rights crisis in Thailand following the 22 May 2014 coup launched by a military junta calling itself the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and led by General Prayuth Chan-ocha. The NCPO has claimed that it carried out the coup for the vague purpose of “reform” and with the […]

Date: June 23, 2014 Document id: ALRC-COS-26-21-2014 HRC section: Item 4, General Debate Speaker: Mr. Budi Tjahjono A Joint Oral Statement to the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), NGO with general consultative status and Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and Franciscan International, NGOs with special consultative status THAILAND: The Council must declare the coup illegal Thank you Mr. President, On 22 May 2014, a military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), usurped power by force and overthrew the democratically elected government of Thailand. The ALRC and LRWC are concerned that since the coup, human rights have suffered a […]

ALRC-CWS-26-13-2014 June 6, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A joint written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre with Community Resource Center and Justice for Peace Foundation THAILAND: Enforced disappearance during a time of lawlessness 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)[1] wishes to bring the suspected enforced disappearance of Porjalee Rakchongcharoen, a Karen environmental activist and human rights defender (HRD) to the attention of the Human Rights Council. Porjalee disappeared after he was arrested on 17 April 2014 by park officials in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province, Thailand. The park officials claim that […]

ALRC-CWS-26-08-2014 June 3, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 3, General Debates A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre THAILAND: Coup Jettisons Courts 1. In Thailand, the legitimate and democratically elected government of Thailand has been overthrown and the military has usurped power by force. The takeover is a clear and complete violation of the constitution of Thailand. Enormous efforts had been made by the Thai people to develop a democratic constitution. The 1997 constitution was created after years of consultation with all sections of Thai society. One of the preoccupations at the time was to end the entrenched […]

ALRC-CWS-26-01-2014 May 29, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty sixth session, Agenda Item 4, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre THAILAND: Human rights under threat following coup 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to raise grave concerns with the Human Rights Council about the threats to human rights subsequent to the coup launched by a military junta calling itself the National Peace and Order Maintenance Council (NPOMC) and led by General Prayuth Chan-ocha on May 22, 2014 in Thailand. The NPOMC abrogated the 2007 Constitution and installed itself as the government. Under martial law, which was put in […]

ALRC-CWS-25-12-2014 February 26, 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twenty fifth session, Agenda Item 4, General Debate A written submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre THAILAND: Ten years without justice for Somchai Neelaphaijit 1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to raise grave concerns with the Human Rights Council about ongoing impunity in the case of the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit in Thailand. On 12 March 2014, the tenth anniversary of Somchai’s disappearance will pass without the perpetrators being held to account. During the past ten years, the Government of Thailand has obstructed the investigation and judicial processes, at times actively and at times […]